A. The United States of America ("United States"), on behalf of the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") has filed a complaint in this matter pursuant to Section 107 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), 42 U.S.C. § 9607, seeking reimbursement of response costs incurred and to be incurred for response actions taken at or in connection with the release or threatened release of hazardous substances at the Puente Valley Operable Unit ("PVOU") of the San Gabriel Valley Superfund Site, Area 4, Los Angeles County, California (the "Site").

B. This Consent Decree provides for the reimbursement of a portion of the United States' Past Response Costs at this Site by LeVan Specialty Company, Inc. ("Settling Defendant").

C. By entering into this Consent Decree, Settling Defendant does not admit liability to or arising out of the transactions or occurrences alleged in the Complaint or to any other person related to the Site.

D. The United States has reviewed the Financial Information submitted by Settling Defendant to determine whether Settling Defendant is financially able to pay response costs incurred and to be incurred at the Site. Based upon this Financial Information, the United States has determined that Settling Defendant is able to pay the amounts specified in Section VI.

E. The United States and Settling Defendant agree, and this Court by entering this Consent Decree finds, that this Consent Decree has been negotiated by the Parties in good faith, that settlement of this matter will avoid prolonged and complicated litigation between the Parties, and that this Consent Decree is fair, reasonable, and in the public interest.

THEREFORE, with the consent of the Parties to this Decree, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED:

II. JURISDICTION

1. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.§§ 1331 and 1345, 42 U.S.C §§ 9607, and 9613(b), and also has personal jurisdiction over Settling Defendant in this action. Settling Defendant consents to and shall not challenge entry of this Consent Decree or this Court's jurisdiction to enter and enforce this Consent Decree.

III. PARTIES BOUND

2. This Consent Decree is binding upon the United States and upon Settling Defendant and its beneficiaries, heirs, successors, and assigns. Any change in ownership or corporate or other legal status, including but not limited to, any transfer of assets or real or personal property, shall in no way alter the status or responsibilities of Settling Defendant under this Consent Decree.

IV. DEFINITIONS

3. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, terms used in this Consent Decree which are defined in CERCLA or in regulations promulgated under CERCLA shall have the meaning assigned to them in CERCLA or in such regulations. Whenever the terms listed below are used in this Consent Decree, the following definitions shall apply:

a. "Basin-wide Response Costs" shall mean costs, including but not limited to direct and indirect costs, including accrued Interest, that the United States has paid for basin-wide (non-operable unit) response actions in connection with the San Gabriel Valley Superfund Sites, Areas 1-4.

b. "Carrier Consent Decree" shall mean the consent decree entered on April 28, 2006 in the matter of United States v. Carrier Corporation, Civ. Action No. 05-6022 ABC (FMOx)(C.D. Cal.), relevant portions of which are attached hereto as Appendix A.

e. "Day" shall mean a calendar day. In computing any period of time under this Consent Decree, where the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the period shall run until the close of business of the next working day.

f. "DOJ" shall mean the United States Department of Justice and any successor departments, agencies, or instrumentalities of the United States.

g. "Effective Date" shall mean the date of entry of this Consent Decree.

h. "EPA" shall mean the United States Environmental Protection Agency and any successor departments, agencies, or instrumentalities of the United States.

m. "Future Response Costs" shall mean all costs, including but not limited to Oversight Costs, direct or indirect costs, and Basin-wide Response Costs allocated to the Site, including Interest, that the United States or any third party pays or incurs at or relating to the Site after the date of entry of this Consent Decree, but prior to the later of (I) the date eight (8) years from the Operational and Functional Date of the Carrier Consent Decree, or (ii) the date of issuance of a final Record of Decision for the Site.

n. "Interest" shall mean interest at the applicable rate specified for interest on investments of the Hazardous Substance Superfund established by 26 U.S.C. § 9507, compounded annually on October 1 of each year, in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a).

o. "Oversight Costs" shall mean all direct and indirect costs, including Interest, that the United States incurs in connection with monitoring and supervising performance of the Response Work by other persons.

p. "Paragraph" shall mean a portion of this Consent Decree identified by an Arabic numeral or an upper or lower case letter.

q. "Parties" shall mean the United States and the Settling Defendant.

r. "Past Response Costs" shall mean all costs, including but not limited to Oversight Costs, direct and indirect costs, and Basin-wide Response Costs allocated to the Site, including Interest, that the United States or any third party has paid or incurred at or relating to ...

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